HOSPITAL bosses will put in a multi-million-pound bid to save in-patient services in Northwich.

The Central Cheshire Primary Care Trust this week scrapped a planned consultation into the closure of inpatient wards at the Victoria Infirmary (VIN) and announced it is to appeal to the Government's #750m fund to develop 'cottage hospitals'.

The fund was only announced a few weeks ago and that, coupled with a huge outcry from campaigners, has caused health chiefs to investigate alternatives.

The CCPCT is keeping its options open, though it is not anticipated that the ageing wards remain. Instead, a rebuilding of facilities or provision of them elsewhere in the town is likely.

CCPCT chief Mike Pyrah said: 'We have recognised and understood the strength of feeling and want to look at the possibilities for the re-provision of beds at VIN or somewhere in Northwich.'

Philippa Skaife-Jones, the director of service development, said: 'The condition of the buildings used for the two wards is poor and needs in excess of #3m to put right. However, it is clear from the health needs of the population that beds in the community are needed to support patients who no longer need to be in an acute hospital.

'This fits well with the announcement by the Department of Health to make available #750m nationally, over the next five years, to support the development of community hospitals.'

Chris Tansey, the director of corporate development, said: 'When we started out looking at what to do with the wards, we didn't know about this money. It was suddenly announced and there is now an opportunity to work on an application for what is going to be a significant amount of money.

'One of the options would be to knock the wards down and rebuilt them, but it could emerge that they would be better built elsewhere in Northwich. What has been very clear is that we do need the beds.

'We are looking for the capital but we also need to look at what would happen if we didn't get the money.'

Liam Byrne, of pressure group SONIC, said: 'The CCPCT has now unequivocally committed itself to continue to provide inpatient beds in Northwich. We are sure that many thousands of people in the area will be very relieved to hear this.'